A Burning Secret

by Montgomery, Beverly

  Still Sasha was anxious to talk with Tony in person plus she was dying to have him make love to her again but she couldn’t allow her mind to think about this right now.

  Tony arrived promptly at Sasha’s home and then suggested that they go out to a restaurant so they could talk with calm heads because he thought that this would be a better strategy but Sasha didn’t want to go to a restaurant to talk.

  She believed whatever Tony had to tell her was pretty serious because he appeared to be trying to do everything to avoid telling her about his secret.

  Tony decided to just come out with it so he said, “First let me say it again, I love you very much!” “I have never felt what I feel with you with any other woman including my wife.”

  “Sasha, when you and I were last together you emphatically said that our past partners were the past and we would leave it there so I saw no need to provide you with intimate details on every woman I have had in my life.”

  “But when I first met you, I was seeing another woman, it was never serious but it was an intimate relationship and that’s all it was for me.”

  “Justin found out that I had been dating her and knowing that she was pregnant with another’s man’s baby he convinced her to lie and tell me that the baby was mine.”

  “He went so far as to spy on you and me and he offered Cecily $50,000 to say the baby was mine.”

  Sasha had let Tony have his say without interrupting him but she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “What the heck are you talking about?” Sasha groaned.

  “So you are telling me that you were going with me and another woman?” “No Sasha, I stopped seeing her a month after I met you because I did not want to ruin any chance of getting with you.”

  “Tony, I have been around the block a few times but I never saw this coming!”

  “What Justin did was wrong, very wrong but you got up on your high and mighty when the man tapped me on the shoulders at the dance club and all along you were seeing someone else.”

  “No, that was way before we got serious about one another.”

  “News flash Tony, I was always serious about you! I need time to think about this. It’s too important to me.”

  Tony reached out for Sasha and she pulled away. She was dying inside because her body ached for him but she needed time to think.

  She had been married to one fool and she sure as heck didn’t want another disappointment. She told Tony she wanted to chill their relationship for a couple of weeks and then they both could see if they were simply a match physically or did they truly love one another.

  Sasha had to be sure. Tony pulled Sasha closer to him and she tried hard to resist him but she couldn’t so they kissed passionately. They both wanted each other badly but Sasha told Tony to leave.

  Sasha immediately phoned Justin to tell him that he was a cruel and pathetic man. Justin continues to swear his love for Sasha but she wasn’t in the mood to hear his crap because she was outraged by what he had done to Tony and to her.

  To make matters worse, he had the nerve to tell Sasha that he did it for her because he wanted to show her that no one is without baggage and secrets.

  “You’re crazy Justin.”

  “But I love you Sasha.”

  “No, Sasha said, you love you and I want nothing more to do with you.”

  “Don’t phone don’t write, don’t bother me, Just leave me alone, Justin!”

  “Okay, if that’s what you want but you mean you don’t want to feel me inside you like you use to love to do when we were married?”

  “Remember how you called it your thunderbolt.”

  “I call all of them thunderbolt so don’t go acting like you’re some kind of stud or something,” Sasha was angered by Justin failure to realize the seriousness of what he had done to her and Tony.

  “Sasha you really hurt my feelings with that last comment.”

  “Well, leave me alone, Justin.”

  “Okay, if that’s the way you want it but I will give you one more chance to change your mind otherwise someone else will have me all to themselves.”

  “I doubt that but have a nice life, Justin.”

  “Goodbye Justin!”

  When Sasha hung up from talking, and hollering at Justin, she was very clear about what she needed to do in her life and it didn’t include Justin or Tony.

  She knew now that she loved Tony but he was too willing to buy his way out of the problem he had with Cecily.

  Cecily had shared that bit of information with Justin after her confrontation with Tony.

  In a lot of ways, Tony was no better than Justin except that he was a better lover but even that was not enough for Sasha.

  It wasn’t so much that he knew how to use his equipment so well but Tony knew how to romance the mind and sometimes that is a bigger turn on than the actual lovemaking itself.

  But Sasha knew that she needed to be strong and she needed to move on at least for now so that she could get a clear mind about what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Weeks passed and Sasha hadn’t heard from Tony. He actually hadn’t done anything to make Sasha feel that he truly loved her.

  And she wasn’t about to phone him because Tony was the one who was willing to deceive Sasha and go to great lengths to keep her from finding out about his past girlfriend and her pregnancy.

  However, one day while shopping in town, Sasha happened to see Tony at a sidewalk café’ having lunch with another woman.

  Sasha made it a point to walk pass their table so Tony could see her but he turned his head away as though she didn’t exist.

  Sasha couldn’t believe what she was seeing but it was really what she needed because it proved that when someone tells you they love you, it is important to remember that those are simply words.

  Sasha knew that this was the final confirmation she need to move on and she knew she needed to take control of her feelings for Tony and get her life back on track.

  Sasha believed that the way to do this was to close her school for a few weeks so that she could take a vacation to clear her mind before doing something too drastic.

  She decided she would vacation in San Antonio, Texas because she had visited there once with Justin and she simply loved it.

  At first, she was concerned that this may not be a good idea because she didn’t want to be anywhere or near anyone that reminded her of Justin but she decided to take the trip to San Antonio.

  In order to avoid checking into a hotel, she found a time share that she was able to rent for a few months.

  She wasn’t sure whether she would be in San Antonio for one month or three months but at least she had an option if she liked the location of the timeshare and needed more time to regroup.

  Sasha moved into a condominium complex and found that people were very friendly but they didn’t impose on Sasha’s privacy.

  However, not long after Sasha moved into the condo, she was approached by Antonio Ballentine. Antonio didn’t have a lot of money but he owned a small trucking company in San Antonio and made a modest income from it.

  He had seen Sasha when she first moved in and couldn’t wait to meet her, so he rang her doorbell one evening with an apple pie and vanilla ice cream in hand.

  No flowers, just a nice practical housewarming gift from a man, no less. Sasha was impressed.

  The first thing that ran across the Sasha’s mind was the fact that she had come to San Antonio to get away from two men because she wanted to clear her mind and here she was already being wooed by another man.

  She thought, okay, the ice cream and pie are simply a nice gesture so what harm could come from it?”

  Sasha could see that Antonio was a younger man but nevertheless, she wasn’t intimidated or concerned about his age.

  Antonio didn’t waste any time. Right away he wanted to know all about Sasha. She told him a few things about herself but she didn’t discuss her past job as a
Call Girl with him.

  Too, she didn’t discuss Justin and Tony with Antonio because she didn’t feel it was necessary because despite her instant attraction to Antonio, she didn’t believe they would have a relationship.

  However, the more she looked at Antonio as he talked freely and openly, Sasha hung on his every word because he was a very warm and seemingly sincere man and he was very handsome!

  Sasha instantly thought this man is Hot! Antonio made his move by first taking a spoon of ice cream and then leaned over to kiss Sasha. She tried to pull back but she couldn’t resist him.

  His cold tongue felt good as he kissed her passionately! It was the most sensational kiss she had ever experienced.

  Then he cut a piece of pie and fed her a tiny piece of it. He then pulled a small bottle of champagne from the inside of his jacket and asked Sasha if she had any champagne glasses, she did so he poured them both a glass as they gazed into one another’s eyes.

  Antonio was making his move on Sasha. She tried to pull away from him but he said, “What are you fighting me for because I know you are attracted to me. I can feel it and I am attracted to you so what is keeping you from giving yourself to me and I mean really giving me all of you right now!”

  Antonio moved closer to Sasha and as she reached out to caress him, his body and hers radiated intensive heat.

  Sasha wanted him to take control and as though he could read her mind, Antonio gently pushed Sasha back onto the sofa and she didn’t fight him.

  She began to unbutton her blouse and she snatched his shirt off because she was hot for him.

  For a moment, Antonio laid on top of Sasha rubbing her shoulders, and playing with her hair.

  Sasha was so turned on and she wanted Antonio to do more than play in her hair. She took his hands and guided them down her body over her nipples and onto what she calls her furry precious.

  Then he suddenly got up and took another spoon of ice cream and then began kissing her clit. At first it felt cold but then it was the most sensational feeling and she could do nothing but let him take charge and continue to do all his magic tricks with the ice cream and apple pie.

  It was as though the ice cream and pie became his props that he used to pleasure her in every way!

  Sasha rubbed Antonio thighs and all over his body and he held her close to him.

  It is not as though Sasha didn’t have experience in being intimate with someone she hardly knew but this time was different so even though she was enjoying what Antonio was doing, she whispered softly, “Get up.”

  But Antonio kept doing what he was doing and Sasha was having a difficult time convincing herself that she really wanted him to get up!

  The more Antonio kissed her and pulled her hair as he rubbed her body gently, the more difficult she found it so Sasha relented and gave in telling Antonio that he could do whatever he desired! She loved the fact that Antonio was an exceptional lover and he knew how to pleasure a woman and she was hypnotized by his rugged good looks.

  He had an eagle tattoo on his back that was very sexy and the wings of the eagle expanded across his shoulder blades. It looked menacing and sexy at the same time. It was inscribed with the words, “Soar like an Eagle.”

  But it was Antonio’s simple approach that had enticed Sasha. She thought to herself, what kind of man brings ice cream and apple pie to a woman he wants to seduce? She didn’t know but it was something about this gift that made Antonio unbelievable attractive, innocent and sweet and Sasha was hooked!

  When Sasha and Antonio came up for air which seems to be after hours of lovemaking, they talked more about what they desired out of life and what they wanted from one another, if anything.

  Sasha didn’t know how long she would be staying in San Antonio but she liked Antonio so she decided that she would continue to see him but she had no expectations for the relationship.

  She simply liked him and he seemed to like her so nothing else was required.

  After all she had already left Montclair to get away to clear her mind so her goal was to filter through all the things that was happening in her life to determine what she wanted to do.

  One thing for sure, the things that were once important to her were no longer important. She didn’t need anyone with a lot of money because she was very wealthy and she could take care of herself.

  She wanted someone decent with good qualities and most of all he had to love her unconditionally.

  She didn’t know if Antonio was the perfect fit for her or this could be a one time thing with nothing else going on but if that were the case, Sasha was okay with it.

  Sasha was thinking about the fact that men do it all the time and they are still considered men but when women have one night stands they are considered to be tramps.

  Sasha was not concerned about this because had needs and she was meeting them. Tomorrow was another day.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  A month later, Sasha loves every aspect of her life. She is enjoying being with Antonio and for the first time she is taking time to be alone with herself.

  Antonio comes around about once a week because that’s the way Sasha wants it. She doesn’t want to be looking at Antonio on a daily basis because she understands now that her primary problem is that she has always felt the need to have a man in her life.

  Perhaps, this has to do with the fact that her father was not in her life; she really didn’t know the real reason but she wanted to break out of this and be whole with or without a man. She liked Antonio though because he didn’t make any demands on her nor did he impose on the times that she wanted for herself.

  He was busy with business most of the time and he worked long hours. Often he would develop terrible headaches because he worked too hard trying to ensure that his business continues to be profitable.

  He never talks about money with Sasha but he has admitted to Sasha that he has a son from a previous relationship.

  But mostly, they talk about the things that are in the here and now and they don’t talk about their past relationships because they are just enjoying one another and still taking it one day at a time.

  However, Sasha hasn’t been feeling as well as she usually does and she feels that all the turmoil that she has experienced with the death of her dear mother, her job and her relationships with Justin and Tony have all caught up with her.

  She knows that although she has been having a good time, she can’t leave the school in Montclair in limbo. She has to make some definite decisions within a few weeks.

  The on-site psychologist for the school has agreed to stay on regardless of whether or not Sasha decides to return to the school but the question is who will take over Sasha’s role. Sasha is great in her counseling role because she identifies so well with the girls and that is mostly attributed to her past experiences.

  When she phoned Tula before leaving Montclair, Tula gave her the name of someone who would be a good choice to lead the school if Sasha decides not to return.

  Sasha’s first order of business is to make contact with Bretta Moore to find out her availability and learn more about her experience in dealing with troubled teen girls.

  In the meantime, Sasha has scheduled a doctor’s appointment to find out why she isn’t feeling quite up to par. She has an appointment today and hopes that she will be able to get something to help her feel more like her old self.

  The doctor sees her and after examining her and performing a few tests, Dr. Ratio tells Sasha that she is about 12 weeks pregnant.

  Sasha is beleaguered because she has only been in San Antonio about two months so if she is 12 weeks the baby is definitely not Antonio.

  But she wonders who baby is it because she had been intimate with clients, Justin and Tony.

  Sasha was devastated! She wants a baby badly but she wants it with someone she really cares about and that is Antonio.

  She wondered what she should do now because Antonio certainly wouldn’t want to be involved with her if he found out that
she was pregnant with another man’s child.

  Nevertheless, Sasha knew that she had to tell Antonio the whole truth about her life. She felt she owed him that much because he has been so open with her about himself and she was beginning to fall for him.

  Sasha phoned Antonio at his job and asked if he wanted to come over for dinner.

  He said, “Sure, I always want to see you,” and showed up promptly at 6:00 p.m.

  Sasha decided not to cook because she didn’t feel like it so she ordered several of Antonio’s favorite dishes from a local restaurant and she set a beautiful table.

  When Antonio arrived, he could tell that there was something else on Sasha’s mind. She poured him a glass of wine but she didn’t pour a glass for herself. As he sipped on the wine Sasha said, “You know I like you a lot Antonio and I haven’t told you much about myself because I wasn’t sure how our relationship would develop.”

  “However, I received some news today and I need to share my life with you because it affects you.”

  Sensing the seriousness in Sasha’s voice, Antonio jokingly said, “I’m all ears, baby!”

  “First let me tell you that I am a former Call Girl and worked at the Manteca Inn in Montclair.”

  Antonio repeated, “A Call Girl” as though he was trying to understand that he was hearing her correctly.

  “Yes, I worked at it for several years before leaving.”

  “I was married at the time and my husband had no idea that I was a Call Girl. He is an attorney in New Jersey.”

  “Wow, I can’t believe this about you. You are so nice and so classy!”

  “Well, Sasha said, there’s more!”

  “After my husband found out about my profession he told my mother and she later died from a heart attack, most probably from the shock of hearing I was a Call Girl”.

  “My husband and I are divorced but he still tries to get me to come back to him.”

  “In the meantime, I started dating another man who is nice but he disappointed me so I decided to leave Montclair for a vacation here in San Antonio.”